Number the Stars Unit
By: Kelsey Bostic
6th grade Language Arts
West Millbrook Middle School
Mrs. Hooker


Introduction: For this unit I will be teaching a 6th grade language arts classroom at West Millbrook Middle School. My cooperating teacher is Mrs. Hooker and she has been an amazing help to me throughout this whole unit plan process. I will be teaching 1st period, 3rd period, 4th period, 5th period and 7th period. 2nd period is my planning and 6th period is guided study. My 5th and 7th periods are higher-level students; there are many AG students in these two periods so I will make the work a little more challenging for them. My focus will be on the novel, Number the Stars.

Organizational Principle: Theme: Doing the right thing, Making Choices

Primary Subject Matter Focus:

Organizing Questions:
  • What are we willing to give up in order to gain what we think we need? 

  • What control do we have in making choices? 

  • How do we solve problems?
  • What impact do our choices have?


Goals: By the end of this unit students will be expected to be proficient in the following:

  • Recognize the consequences that follow making the wrong choices
  • Recognize the rewards for making the right choices

General Unit Objectives:
Cognitive:

1) Understand the novel and all of its parts
1.1Recognize the plot of the story
1.2Identify the climax, rising action, falling action, theme, etc.
1.3
2) Develop skills in capitalization and punctuation
2.1 Identify words or phrases that need punctuation and capitalization
2.2Correct words or phrases that have punctuation or capitalization errors

3) Analyze the use of figurative language
3.1 Distinguish between literal language and figurative language.
3.2 Identify figurative language
3.3 Analyze the effectiveness of figurative language
4) Understand Short Stories and all of its parts
4.1 Engage in discussion about short stories
4.2 Comprehend what they are reading
5) Understand the use of Greek/Latin Roots
5.1


Affective:

6) Participate in Literature Circles
6.1 Define roles for each member of group
6.2Participate in the roles that they are assigned
6.3 Participate in-group discussion
6.4 Listen attentively to others
6.5 Respond appropriately to others opinions
7) Develop community in the classroom
7.1 Share ideas and insights with the class
7.2 Respond to the ideas and questions of others in class.
7.3 Listen to others’ responses


Performance:

8) Compose original writing
8.1 Write a Poem
8.2 Write an argumentative or persuasive essay
8.3 Revise all writings
9) Present material orally
9.1 Share pieces with the class
9.2 Use effective speaking skills
10) Design



Common Core Standards:

1.CCSS- W- (6)- 1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
CC.6.W.1.A. Introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly.
CC.6.W.2.B. Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
CC.6.W.3.C.Use words, phrases, and clauses to clarify the relationships among claim(s) and reasons.
CC.6.W.4.D. Establish and maintain a formal style.
CC.6.W.5.E. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the argument presented.
2) CCSS-L-(6)-3: Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
CC.6.L.1.A. Vary sentence patterns for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style.
CC.6.L.2.B. Maintain consistency in style and tone.
3) CCSS-SL-(6)-5: Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.
4) CCSS-RL-(6)-4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.

Possible Unit Materials & Supplementary Texts:
  • Carol Pope’s Small Group Discussion Worksheet
  • Literature Circle Role sheets
Possible Activities/ Instructional Strategies:
  • Daily Journal questions
  • Read Number the Stars
  • Discussion questions for chapters
  • Literature circles
  • Analyze a poem
  • Write a poem and share
  • Write and argumentative or persuasive essay
  • Read short stories
  • Reading comprehension strategies
  • Small group discussion sheet for novel (Carol Pope)
  • Video
  • Greek/Latin Roots tied into journals or an activity
  • Pronoun, pronoun agreement and antecedents review
  • Teach capitalization, commas, parenthesis, and dashes
  • Annotation on current event or article related to the novel
  • Review figurative language when applicable
  • Debate (not sure on what yet) (Decision making)
  • Glogster poster made for novel (technology)
  • Facebook page (paper) made for a character of choice
  • Role play activity
  • Reading days